MAYFIELD, Ky. - Like many entrepreneurs, Clayton Howe had high hopes for his Mayfield business.
"We were a bakery, a coffee shop, and a restaurant," he recalled.
But the economy became his enemy. "We simply weren't making any money," he said.
So after two years, he closed his shop and opened a new chapter on top of his building.
"Anyone can put one of these on the roof of their house and pretty much make their electricity go away," he said with a smile.
The panels create power through the sun which is then converted into A/C power. That power is put on Mayfield Electric's grid - servicing about 5,600 customers. In return, the Tennessee Valley Authority will pay Howe a premium for his energy.
"I fully expect to get no electric bill and I fully expect to get a check as well," Howe said.
TVA Program Manager Tim Hughes said in recent years, solar energy has become a booming business.
"Panel prices have been very expensive but theres at least a 50% reduction in the last two years and we expect to see continuing reductions," Hughes said.
Hughes plans to complete 100 similar projects within a year and it's allowing people like Howe to laugh all the way to bank.
"I've had a lot of people laugh at me for putting it in but you know, I say let them laugh. In a few days when they get a bill and I get a check, I'll laugh then," Howe said.
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